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SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN 2016.17

Mount Washington Alpine Resort has invested over two million dollars on improvements to infrastructure, equipment, and service outlets for the winter season. This is in addition to the investment made this summer to bring back mountain biking.

The Resort confirmed the purchase of three snow cats from Prinoth, a leading manufacturer of snow grooming machines. The resort will add one winch cat and two conventional cats to the existing fleet of five groomers to significantly improve the on-snow experience in both the Alpine and Nordic areas.

The Resort has been busy studying proposals from three snowmaking equipment manufacturers and developing plans. There are a number of options, and since we are committed to designing and installing a state of the art system which achieves maximum production and energy efficiency in this particularly difficult climate, we want to make sure we put the right snow guns in the right places. For this season, we will continue the test by installing ten more snow guns which will be enough to cover the tubing hill area and our basic beginner terrain.

The biggest physical change that guests will notice in the base area is a new restaurant where the retail store used to be and a new retail experience where the coffee shop was last year. The space has been fully renovated which will include 80 new restaurant seats to improve service on busy weekends and holidays. The menu has been developed around a bakery in the morning and bistro in the afternoon concept. With great food and big picture windows facing the mountain and Strathcona Park it will become a favorite place to meet and hang out.

Mount Washington also announced it has partnered with Rossignol to bring an industry leading retail concept to the mountain. A larger, more innovative ski shop will move into the east end of the Alpine Lodge and the space will undergo a complete renovation. Along with the traditional ski and snowboard gear from Rossignol and other suppliers, the General Store has been integrated into the new location as a small French themed market. The Petit Market will sell grocery items as well as beer and wine.

To round out the retail experience, Mount Washington and Rossignol will present a new Rossignol Demo Centre near the base of the Eagle Chairlift. The design of the Centre will be reminiscent of a high-end new car showroom where guests will be able to learn about the technology behind skis, boards and boots. To put all that new knowledge to use, a fleet of 30 demo skis and 10 demo boards will be available so guests will have the opportunity to take the gear out for a test drive. Boot fitting and repair services for all types of gear will also be offered in the Rossignol Demo Centre.

In conjunction with the expanded retail and demo program at Mount Washington, the resort is introducing two Rossignol Experience Centres, one in the Alpine Lodge, home of the alpine ski school and rental fleet, and the other at Raven Lodge, which is the center of Nordic activities. In addition to explanatory graphics and displays, both the alpine and Nordic rental shops will receive an influx of new equipment, including over 500 new pairs of skis, 100 new snowboards and 500 new pairs of boots, all from the Resort’s ski and snowboard equipment partner, Rossignol. Guests can expect to get the best gear available when renting which means a better experience on the snow, whether on the cross-country trails or on the alpine ski runs.

Lastly, two other initiatives round out the investment for this winter, a new point of sale software system to meet the new standards for customer information security and a new logo which will be introduced as part of this year’s season pass ad campaign to reflect the progress the resort is making towards improving the guest experience in every facet of its operation.

VANCOUVER ISLAND- OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ABOUNDS!

Ski and golf. Snowboard and surf. Cross-country ski and kayak. Snowshoe and hike the West Coast Trail. Snowtube and salmon fish! Mount Washington Alpine Resort is located in a geographical hotspot for outdoor adventure tourism and epitomizes the wilderness that is Canada. Visit the mountain this winter and discover an unbelievable array of eco-tourism options right at the mountain's doorstep. If you're looking for a high-altitude snow experience with BC's deepest snow, ocean ecosystems teeming with life, or remote sandy beaches with inviting waves- then this is your place. It's time to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and discover what the locals already know- it's not tropical, but Vancouver Island is paradise!

GAMES LEGACY LEAVES LASTING IMPRESSION AT MOUNTAIN

After the Olympic Games came to Vancouver in 2010, great Games legacies were left in communities around British Columbia. At Mount Washington, that legacy is the stately Vancouver Island Mountain Centre (VIMC). Opened in December, the VIMC is the ultimate venue for athletes and outdoor education groups looking to capitalize on Mount Washington's alpine slopes, nordic trails and proximity to Strathcona Provincial Park. The VIMC comes complete with group accommodation, a full kitchen, conference facilities and fitness centre. Discover how Mount Washington seized the Olympic opportunity to bring international athletes to the Island resort pre-Games, then helped contribute to the development of the Vancouver Island Mountain Centre project post-Games.

EASY ACRES SUCCESSFUL ON AND OFF SNOW!

Mount Washington invested 3 million dollars into their beginners area in 2012. Why? The mountain realized that the beginners experience was paramount to the future success of the resort. The beginner development, called Easy Acres, generated significant publicity for the mountain, yielded a significant increase in beginner lesson traffic for the first time in years, and introduced the largest network of covered Magic Carpets to North America. Find out why Mount Washington's phones are now ringing off the hook for advice on the development of this popular beginner product.

THE DEEP SNOW CAPITAL OF CANADA

In Canada, it's amazing that most people don't associate Vancouver Island with snow. All in all, it's a fair statement when you consider the lack of white stuff at sea level which makes the region a boon for winter-escaping retirees. But if it's snow you seek, all you need to do is climb high into the mountains- a 30 minute drive and 1000 metres up- to discover the deepest snow in all of Canada. Mount Washington has received three of its deepest snow seasons in resort history, all in the last five years. An anamoly? Hardly, when you realize the resort has been recognized industry-wide as the one of the deepest resorts worldwide for well over the last decade. So in the world of snow, Mount Washington- Vancouver Island- actually has an abundance!